72: Taming the Horse King, Lightning

The moment he landed, his legs trembled slightly, and a trace of lingering fear remained in his heart.

In the livestream room, the audience's hearts were in their throats:

"My god, that was so perilous. What would have happened if he fell!"

"I don't even dare to look, it's too tense. Great God Lu Fan must stay safe!"

"The direction Great God Lu Fan is heading seems to be the same direction where the Wild Horse herd was discovered yesterday." A sharp-eyed viewer noticed Lu Fan's route.

"Could it be that Great God Lu Fan wants to bring a horse back? With a horse, he can speed up to support An Lan!" Someone suddenly realized, guessing Lu Fan's intention.

"Go Great God Lu Fan, you must succeed!" The viewers sent barrage comments one after another to cheer him on.

Lu Fan looked at the broken wood with lingering fear, secretly thanking his good luck, then took a deep breath and continued on his way.

Meanwhile, Da Hei, relying on his innate agility, followed closely behind Lu Fan through the mountains like a nimble fawn, never leaving his side.

After two or three hours of arduous trekking, Lu Fan finally reached the depression and saw the Wild Horse herd he had discovered yesterday.

The herd was like a surging black ocean, galloping and neighing freely in the depression; the scene was magnificent.

Lu Fan's goal this time was to find the strongest Wild Horse to be his capable partner for the rescue of An Lan.

Lu Fan's gaze quickly locked onto the Horse King.

That horse had jet-black, shiny skin, as if carefully dyed with thick ink, reflecting a charming luster under the sunlight.

Its whole body was muscled with smooth lines, every muscle seemingly containing endless power.

Its mane flew wildly in the wind like a fluttering flag, showcasing its regal demeanor.

Its eyes revealed an overbearing arrogance, as if declaring its dominance to the entire world.

In the livestream room, the viewers were once again shocked by the sight before them:

"My god, what a strong horse! This is simply the king among horses!"

"First time seeing such a huge horse, taller than a person, so shocking!"

"No wonder they call them 'tall-headed big horses'; this Horse King's aura is incredible."

"Can Great God Lu Fan really tame this horse? It feels like the difficulty is huge." The viewers were both expectant and worried, wondering how Lu Fan would tame this unruly Horse King.

Seeing this Horse King, Lu Fan's eyes also lit up, as if seeing the dawn of victory.

"Alright, I've decided on you. We really need to get to know each other today. I believe you will definitely become my most capable partner."

Lu Fan muttered to himself while slowly approaching the herd.

The herd noticed a stranger approaching and immediately became alert; the originally orderly group began to stir.

The Horse King even raised its head and neighed, its high-pitched cry sounding like a stern warning to Lu Fan: "Don't come near my territory, or don't blame me for being impolite!"

At this time, Da Hei was excited by the horse herd and was eager to rush over.

Lu Fan was quick and steady, pressing him down and saying softly but firmly, "Da Hei, stay here obediently, don't move around."

He knew in his heart that he absolutely could not let Da Hei startle the herd.

If these Wild Horses were spooked and scattered, it would take a great deal of effort to find them again; time was tight, and he couldn't afford any delay.

Lu Fan knew well that taming the majestic Horse King before him would be no easy task.

He began to slowly circle the herd, his steps light and cautious, his eyes fixed on the Horse King's every move, trying to find a perfect opportunity to get close.

The Horse King was not to be trifled with either, its eyes as alert as a hawk's, staring dead at Lu Fan.

As soon as Lu Fan showed any intention of getting closer, it would immediately lead the herd to retreat quickly and nimbly, as if declaring to Lu Fan: "Don't think you can easily approach my tribe!"

Lu Fan cautiously approached while secretly releasing his Animal Affinity.

Something magical happened; the horses, which were originally tense and uneasy, slowly relaxed their nerves, lowered their heads, and began to graze leisurely.

This subtle change gave Lu Fan hope. Following the momentum of this "affinity," he walked into the herd step by step.

The closer he got to the Horse King, the more he could feel the powerful aura emanating from it—the robust body, the flying mane—every detail showcased an unparalleled divinity.

Lu Fan tentatively reached out his hand, slowly moving toward the Horse King, wanting to touch it.

The Horse King noticed this strange action and let out a low neigh at Lu Fan while exhaling a puff of hot air, seemingly warning Lu Fan not to act rashly.

"Calm down, brother, I have no ill intentions; I just want to make friends with you." Lu Fan soothed it in a soft voice, as if talking to an old friend of many years.

Under the continuous influence of Animal Affinity, the Wild Horse's tense muscles gradually relaxed, and the atmosphere of tension dissipated.

Seeing this, Lu Fan was delighted. Seizing the opportunity, he suddenly reached out to grab the Wild Horse's mane and tried to mount it.

However, this action still caused a strong reaction from the Horse King. It broke free from Lu Fan's hand, quickly stepped aside, and its eyes were once again filled with alertness and resistance.

Lu Fan then realized that taming this Wild Horse was indeed not an easy task.

What the system rewarded him with was only Animal Affinity, not animal taming power.

Simply put, under the effect of Animal Affinity, animals would lower their alertness and hostility toward Lu Fan, but this was not equivalent to being able to tame them.

Especially for an animal like the Horse King, which was full of wildness and served as the leader of the herd, it was even harder to make it submit.

Recalling when he tamed Da Hei, it was because Da Hei was seriously injured at the time and had been heartlessly driven out by a wolf pack, in a state of isolation and extreme weakness.

At that time, Lu Fan helped heal Da Hei's injuries and gave him food, making Da Hei feel warmth and care, which led Da Hei to develop obedience and reliance on Lu Fan from the bottom of his heart.

But the Horse King before him was different; it was high and mighty, leading the entire herd, and its whole body exuded an aura of unruliness. One could imagine the difficulty of taming it.

Thus, a thrilling "chase game" unfolded between Lu Fan and the Horse King.

Lu Fan was like an experienced and cunning hunter, constantly observing and probing to find a weakness in the Horse King.

The Horse King, on the other hand, was like a guard holding his ground without flinching, always alert to Lu Fan's every move, guarding strictly to prevent Lu Fan from having an opportunity.

The surrounding Wild Horses also seemed to be attracted by this unique "battle."

They stopped to watch, neighing from time to time, as if cheering for the Horse King or creating psychological pressure for Lu Fan.

After a long period of maneuvering, the opportunity finally came.

When the Horse King turned around, its steps paused briefly. Although it was only for a split second, Lu Fan's sharp eyes caught this opening.

Seeing the moment, he charged at the Horse King like an arrow leaving a bow. Before the Horse King could react, he straddled the horse's back in one stride.

The Horse King obviously didn't expect Lu Fan to attack suddenly, and it was completely enraged by this abrupt move.

It was like an erupting volcano, shaking its body frantically in an attempt to buck off this uninvited guest, Lu Fan.

In the livestream room, the audience's hearts were in their throats:

"My god, it's too dangerous! If he gets bucked off, he'll definitely have a nasty fall!"

"Yeah, I don't even dare to look. Great God Lu Fan must be careful!"

Lu Fan was now like a piece of chewing gum stuck tightly to the horse's back. His hands gripped the Horse King's mane firmly; no matter how the Horse King struggled, he refused to let go.

"Brother, don't waste your energy. From today on, you are my capable 'mount'!"

Lu Fan shouted loudly on the horse's back, his voice filled with excitement and confidence, as if declaring his determination to the Horse King.

The Horse King wouldn't submit so easily. Seeing that it couldn't shake off Lu Fan, it began to run frantically in the depression. Its speed was as fast as a whistling whirlwind, kicking up clouds of dust from the ground.

Lu Fan felt like he was on an out-of-control roller coaster, being thrown high into the air one moment, his heart nearly jumping out of his throat.

The next moment, he would descend rapidly, his internal organs jolted out of place.

His heart beat frantically in his chest, as if it would burst through at any moment.

"Man, you really are wild! But I like it!"

Lu Fan shouted to cheer himself up while doing his best to maintain his balance, his eyes fixed forward, not daring to slacken for a second.

Seeing that running couldn't shake Lu Fan, the Horse King came up with a new trick. It suddenly leaped high and kicked the ground hard with its strong hind hooves, trying to throw Lu Fan violently to the ground.

Lu Fan was dazed by the violent jolting, feeling as if his internal organs were about to be shaken out and his head was spinning.

"Hey, you guy, you've got some moves! But I won't give up easily. Just wait to be tamed by me!"

Lu Fan gritted his teeth, enduring the physical discomfort and dizziness, and continued to hold on tight to the Horse King. His eyes revealed a firm belief and unyielding perseverance.

This thrilling "man-horse battle" lasted for a long time, with both sides stubbornly competing.

Gradually, under the continuous effect of Animal Affinity and Lu Fan's persistent forceful taming, the Horse King's movements slowed down, and its resistance grew weaker.

Lu Fan keenly felt the Horse King's resistance weakening and knew the time was ripe.

He began to soothe the Horse King in a soft voice, like coaxing a child throwing a tantrum: "Alright, alright, brother, stop it. Come with me. From now on, we'll be good partners, fighting side by side."

Lu Fan spoke gently while lightly stroking the Horse King's neck, his movements soft and soothing, trying to let the Horse King feel his goodwill and friendliness.

The Horse King seemed to truly understand Lu Fan's words. It slowly stopped struggling, its violently heaving chest gradually calmed down, and its breathing became steady and long.

[Successfully Tamed the Wild Horse King]

Lu Fan had successfully tamed the Horse King. His face was flushed with excitement, and he cheered loudly from the horse's back: "Haha, I did it! I finally tamed the Horse King! Da Hei, look, you have a new partner!"

Lu Fan shouted to Da Hei, who had been standing aside watching anxiously.

Da Hei also wagged his tail excitedly and let out a cheerful cry, as if celebrating this hard-won victory for Lu Fan. Between the man, the horse, and the dog, a special emotion seemed to be transmitted.

In the livestream room, the audience also erupted:

"Great, great! Great God Lu Fan really tamed the Horse King! So amazing!"

"Too thrilling. If it were anyone else, they'd probably have been bucked off long ago and ended up with a bruised face."

However, just as everyone was immersed in joy, some foreign viewers jumped out inappropriately, expressing disdain:

"So what if he tamed a horse? Once our contestant Kalba kills Lu Fan, everything of Lu Fan's will belong to us."

"That's right, this time your China is finished, hahaha."

These provocative words instantly enraged the Chinese audience:

"Foreign dogs, get out! You're not welcome here!"

"Yeah, hurry up and go back to your old home, don't embarrass yourselves here!"

"Just you wait for our Great God Lu Fan to crush your Kalba and that piece of crap Meichuan Neiku. You'll be crying then!"

After taming the Horse King, Lu Fan carefully got off its back. He knew the Horse King had just consumed a lot of energy and needed to replenish water and salt.

He first let the Horse King drink some clear water. Watching the Horse King drink heartily, he then took out the prepared salt and fed it to the Horse King bit by bit.

"Eat some salt to replenish your energy. There's an arduous task waiting for us in a bit," Lu Fan said softly, as if discussing something with the Horse King.

"From today on, your name is Lightning. From now on, we are partners through thick and thin." Lu Fan looked at the Horse King and said seriously.

Miraculously, the Horse King seemed to accept the name. It raised its head and let out bursts of spirited roars, as if responding to Lu Fan's call.

After Lightning had recovered somewhat, Lu Fan immediately mounted its back, his eyes full of firmness and determination: "Da Hei, let's go. We're going home to save An Lan!"

Da Hei, who had been waiting patiently in the grass, heard Lu Fan's call and immediately ran out like an arrow, following behind Lu Fan and Lightning.

Lightning also seemed to understand Lu Fan's intention. It neighed loudly to the sky, the sound echoing throughout the depression, then charged out like a bolt of black Lightning, its speed astonishing.

Da Hei followed closely behind the Horse King, his four legs running rapidly, kicking up dust from the ground.

One man, one horse, and one dog kicked up a cloud of dust in the wilderness, galloping toward the Shelter; their momentum seemed to break through all obstacles.

The other horses in the herd saw the direction the Horse King was running and followed suit. For a moment, a herd of horses was galloping, a magnificent scene.

"Whoa~"

Lu Fan pulled Lightning's mane, signaling it to stop.

He gently patted Lightning's neck and said softly, "Brother, your tribe can't follow us. They'll be safer here."

Lightning seemed to understand Lu Fan's words. It immediately turned back and let out another loud roar to the sky. The herd also responded, neighing as if bidding farewell to the Horse King.

Slowly, all the horses in the herd stopped and quietly watched the direction Lightning was leaving.

Then, Lightning turned around and continued on the journey toward the destination. This time, the herd indeed did not follow.

Meanwhile, in the livestream room, the war of words between the Chinese audience and the viewers from the Pretty Country and Japan was still intense.

Although host Wang Tao's speech temporarily calmed some of the Chinese audience's anger, everyone was still worried about the safety of Lu Fan and An Lan.

"I wonder how Lu Fan is doing now. I hope he can find An Lan as soon as possible and successfully get rid of those two villains." A viewer left a message in the barrage comments, their words filled with worry and concern.

"Lu Fan must keep it up, we all believe in you! You are our pride!" Another viewer also expressed trust and support for Lu Fan in the barrage comments.

Just as everyone was waiting anxiously, the livestream room's screen suddenly switched to a scene of Lu Fan riding the Horse King in the wilderness.

Seeing this scene, the viewers erupted again. Hope was rekindled in their hearts, and they cheered for Lu Fan, looking forward to him successfully completing the rescue mission and overcoming all difficulties.